The central government’s Foreign Ministry Commission in Macau has issued a strongly worded statement to reject “irresponsible remarks” by the US Congress about Macau’s internal affairs.

The “strong protest,” which was issued late Monday, said that the 2013 Annual Report by the Congressional Executive Commission on China ignored Macau’s realities.

According to The Macau Post Daily, the US report, which was issued in Washington, D.C. on October 10, said that “the lack of democratic elections … and threats to the freedoms of the press and assembly in Macau remain ongoing challenges.”

The report also claimed that “mainland experts and officials have dissuaded Macau from pursuing universal suffrage.”

The report also said that “the gambling industry in Macau is reportedly tied to widespread corruption and the laundering of large amounts of money out of mainland China.”

The report cited an unnamed Macau academic as estimating that “US$202 billion in ill-gotten funds are channelled through Macau each year.”(macaunews)